Life as a Foster Carer
Party Plan Selling is back
Hinchinbrook Houseboats

MINI
MAG
Inside

48
52
publishers note
Hello and welcome to our
sensational Summer edition
which is chock full of ideas to
keep the kids entertained for the
holidays.
Are you ready for 2012? We’ve
got lots planned for you this
year including a mums weekend
getaway which I will definitely
be looking forward to since my
kids still seem to think sleep is
over-rated.

02
contents
parents
02 What’s new
09 For the love of kids

Until next time, happy reading,
and don’t forget to tell everyone,
you read it in PakMag.

23 Family Nutrition

pakmag
Publisher: Bree James
Editor: Elaine Seager
What’s On/MiniMag: Janelle May
Client Manager: Angelina Mortley
Design & Layout: Trina Jensen
Articles: Elaine Seager, Amanda Cranston
& submitted writers
Phone: 4034 3331 Fax: 4034 3342
Email: info@pakmag.com.au
Address: Level 2, 68 Abbott Street
Virginia House, Cairns QLD 4870
Postal: PO Box 7433, Cairns QLD 4870
Disclaimer: No part of this magazine, including the
advertisements within it may be reproduced, in part
or in whole without the expressed permission of the
editor. Whilst the greatest of care is taken to ensure that
the information in the magazine is correct at the time
of going to press, readers are advised to check details
before visiting. The publishers cannot accept responsibility
for errors, inaccuracies or omissions. The expressions
expressed within PakMag are not necessarily the views of
the publishers, but those of individual writers.

kids
31 Kid’s MiniMag

05 Show & tell

Good luck to all those families
with kids starting prep this year.
It’s an exciting milestone and
lots of our readers have proudly
shared their photos of their
preppy’s in their new uniforms.
Check out how cute they look on
pages 10-11.

two-hour sessions each month on Positive
Parenting for those with kids aged 2-12
years. The next dates are 19 Jan (6-8pm), 21
Feb (10am-noon) and 22 March (6-8pm).
Many small business owners around Cairns are asking how they can use social media to promote
their business. Entrepreneur, speaker and social media expert Nick Bowditch is coming to Cairns
on 27 March to present a full day workshop on everything you need to know to build your social

fun in most things we do together as a
family. Plus I have created a zoo in the
backyard for my kids!

www.pakmag.com.au

5

Show
and
tell

Cool OFF!
Suffering with the heat? Instead of burning
up your energy bills with air-con check out
these new Cool Gelmats from Forty Winks and
Snooze. They contain a unique heat absorbing

Got something to share or
shout about? Email us at

elaine@pakmag.com.au

gel to eliminate body heat and help you sleep.

TO WIN: For your chance to

They can also be used to sit on in the car or at

win a Cool Gelmat simply email us at

home. Costs start from $79 and they’re also

competitions@pakmag.com.au and tell

available online at www.coolgelmat.com.au

us why you desrve to win this product?

Are we there yet?
A great new box set to keep the kids
occupied, the Are We There Yet? Gift Set by
Alison Lester includes her much-loved picture
book of the same name, plus a 200-piece
jigsaw puzzle and a pack of specially
designed playing cards. RRP $29.95

My Business
Local mumpreneur Marion Poole juggles family
life (a 10 month old baby and another on the
way) with her business, Cairns Cooking Classes.
During the school holidays, Mum

to turn a chore in to a fun experience is

would give us a pile of her cookbooks

having the confidence to experiment and

and tell us to choose a recipe. Then

try new recipes and ingredients. In the

we’d write a shopping list, go shopping

tropics we are lucky to have such great

and under her guidance, prepare that

choice.

evenings meal. The satisfaction from the

Pets not just for Xmas

end result got me hooked.

As a mum I have a new appreciation
of what ‘time poor’ means. Everything

I’ve always loved food and cooking

changes when you become a mum and

for people but I noticed many people

whatever you do workwise has to fit with

never learned to cook. Some close

your new lifestyle. I love my business but

friends relied heavily on takeaways and

it has to be flexible around my family’s

and cats are left at shelters during this month

eating out. It cost them a fortune for

needs.

than any other month of the year. Many people

what I consider to be very ordinary food,

are given pets for Christmas but then realise they

so I started creating cooking classes for

Did you know that January is the busiest month

for animal shelters around Australia as more dogs

can’t take care of them. Hopefully in 2012 less
animals will be dumped at shelters.

beginner to intermediate home cooks.
My joy comes from showing people just
how easy a good, tasty meal can be and
when they say, “I had no idea it could be
so easy”, I feel my job is done. All it takes

6

www.pakmag.com.au

Thanks to Peace Mitchell, director of
online community Connect2mums.
Connect2mums connects almost 10,000
mums together for friendship and support.
It’s also a place where mumpreneurs from
all over Australia come to network.

www.pakmag.com.au

7

Love of kids
for the

09

Real
Lives
Story thanks to
Amanda Cranston

Rosemary Iloste is an amazing woman. She
is a mother of four and has been a foster
mother to nineteen children. This local mum
has also just launched a book called For the
Love of Kids, and is the first Australian woman
to write a book about being a foster parent.
“I wrote the book because I felt it was

feel wanted and they put up barriers so they

child that stayed with us in our home.”

important for my kids to understand why we

won’t get hurt.”

Rosemary says it was often disappointing

did the things we did and for all my foster
children to know that they were loved,”
Rosemary explains. She says there are many
reasons children are placed in foster care
such as abuse at home, neglect, families
awaiting court cases, a single parent being
arrested or a single parent becoming sick
and unable to care for their children. “It’s
unfortunate because the community often
judges foster kids and assumes they have
done something wrong, but the majority
of foster kids are good kids who have just
grown up in a bad situation or environment,”
Rosemary says.

children and provide the best care they
can, the government also needs to be
more supportive and offer better training
and resources. “At the end of the day foster
parents do it for love and not money as
foster carers are responsible for all costs
including medical, clothing, shelter, food
and education,” she says. “I always had a
cupboard full of clothes in all sizes because
kids often came in only the clothes they
were wearing and I fostered babies right
through to teenagers.” She says she would

Safety never recognised this bond children
form in foster homes and would remove a
foster child with little or no notice, often not
giving the children a chance to say goodbye
to all family members. “The department also
gave no consideration to my children who
were losing a brother or sister who had been
living with us for a few years, and would feel
devastated at not getting to say goodbye. I
hope this is something the department will
take into consideration in their dealings with
families in future and offer counselling as
part of their service to the children leaving
and the ones left behind,” she says.

often receive a call in the middle of the night

different needs and it can be hard on them

asking her to take in a foster child and she

But Rosemary has no regrets and feels her

each time they are moved to a different

would almost always oblige and love them

life is richer because of all the wonderful

family as foster homes have different rules,

like her own.“

children that have been part of her life. She

harder with older foster kids because they
will be good as gold for the first few weeks
while they suss you out, but then they start
to test the boundaries with bad behaviour to
see how long you will keep them,” she says.
“It can be hard for them to build trust and

www.pakmag.com.au

parents need to be passionate about

and frustrating that the Department of Child

She admits that each foster child has

boundaries and discipline. “It’s sometimes

8

Rosemary explains that while foster

My kids shared everything with their foster
brothers and sisters from their toys and
their home through to their parents and
grandparents,” she says. “My children loved
their foster brothers and sisters like blood
relatives and formed a bond with every

has kept in touch with many of her foster
children over the years and hopes her
book will let them know how special and
wonderful each and every one of them is.
She also hopes the book will give people a
good insight into the world of fostering.

www.pakmag.com.au

9

Class of 2012
Starting big school is a major milestone in any child’s life. It’s also
an emotional time for many parents as they proudly watch their
baby move on from early childhood in to school life. Here are
some of this year’s new prep students from around our region:

Name: Owen Chivers

Name: Sophie Page

School: Edge Hill State School

School: Redlynch State School

School: St Andrews

Most looking forward to:

Most looking forward to:

Most looking forward to:

“Having fun and playing with my friends

“Playing on the monkey bars”

“Meeting new friends, learning more

and having rest time”

about dinosaurs and doing science”

Name: Anabelle Ambrose

Name: James Maxa

Name: Bailey Kraft

School: Freshwater State School

School: St Francis Xavier’s School

School: Whitfield State School

Most looking forward to:

Most looking forward to:

Most looking forward to:

“Seeing my brother at school”

“Going on the bus”

“Music classes and learning to write”

Name: Georgia Claque

Name: Adam Ward

Name: Eden Thelan

Name: Jaxon Currie

Name: Lilah Cooper

Name: Thomas Johnston

School: Trinity Anglican School (TAS)

School: Trinity Anglican School (TAS)

School: Hambledon State School

School: Mother of Good Counsel

School: Trinity Beach State School

School: Mother of Good Counsel

Most looking forward to: “Going

Most looking forward to:

Most looking forward to:

Most looking forward to:

Most looking forward to:

Most looking forward to:

to prep with some of my kindy friends,

“Swimming lessons in the big pool and

“Painting, playing with blocks and playing

“Playing with mobilo, play dough and

“Getting homework, wearing my uniform

“Sitting at a big boy desk and playing

drawing and making things, learning the

playing with my new friends”

with my friends”

drawing”

like a big girl and having lunch out of my

with the kids’’

days of the week and Japanese”

10

Name: Zoe John

www.pakmag.com.au

lunchbox”

www.pakmag.com.au

11

12

school routines

Harley’s
Educational

Catholic
Education

Story thanks to
Kristy Vallely

Story thanks to Wendy
& David Manners

Tips for getting your family into a school routine
I have two children, aged 5 and 3, and when my

My morning starts early on a school day and

7.00am: By this time the kids have normally

eldest child started prep I wasn’t prepared for

here is a brief outline of my routine:

finished breakfast and we remind them to have

the school routine so early mornings were very
stressful for all of us. Routines are something
that don’t come very naturally to me but I soon
realised that I needed to develop a school routine
that would help create a calm and easy flowing
family household.
I found the trick was to be a clock watcher, and
for me that meant setting alarms because in the
mornings with so much going on it was easy to
lose track of time.

5.30am: I always make sure I am up about an

7.20am: I have already laid out their clothes and

to ease into my day, have my coffee and make

they dress themselves

they wake.
6.30am: Dad makes sure breakfast and a glass of
water is waiting for them on the table and I either
wake them up or they wake up themselves. We
always spend at least 5 minutes cuddling them
and asking them how their sleep was.

starting school

a shower.

hour before my kids. I need that bit of me-time
sure I’m ready to give them 100% of me when

13

Teaching children to cope with transitions

7.40am: We’re all ready to leave the house
Having the same routine everyday benefits the
kids because they know what’s coming next.
We’ve also implemented a high five reward
chart so they pop a magnet on each time they
complete a task (and it also reminds them what
to do next).

Once Christmas is over, returning to work and

• Assisting children to use their imagination

If your child is much more anxious than other

planning for the new school year can be a busy

to cope.

children their age, talk to the teacher or school

time and while it should be exciting for children,
some can feel anxious and stressed.
Parents can help children overcome anxiety
about starting something new by involving
them in the planning process – if they’re starting
school let them choose a new lunchbox, get
them to try on their new uniform and talk about
all the fun things they’ll be doing soon.
Remember that children learn from their parents
and this includes how you deal with stressful
situations so you can help your child manage
stress and anxiety by:
• Breaking goals down into baby steps

Let no child ever come to us
without leaving happier,
smarter and more confident.

• Teaching children positive self-talk.
• Viewing stressors in a logical way rather than
dwelling on them.
When children display anxiety they are trying to
understand a difficult situation and working out
ways to cope. Signs of anxiety include - clinging
to a parent, asking for help with easy tasks,
avoiding stressful situations, being unprepared
to take risks, being a perfectionist, preferring to
watch rather than get involved, getting upset
easily, complaining a lot and always seeing the
danger in things.
Positive support from parents will help them

• Praising children when they achieve

develop the emotional and cognitive skills they

small successes

need to deal with stressful situations and build

• Demonstrating relaxation techniques

confidence to manage their feelings.

support staff such as guidance officers, school
counsellors or school psychologists. You may also
ask your GP for advice.
If a child seems anxious it is important for parents
to encourage them to try challenging new tasks
rather than avoiding them. Model good coping
strategies, teach them how to problem solve,
introduce changes gradually and be realistic in
your expectations of them.
School is a partnership with parents so plan
on getting to know your child’s teachers and
mention any concerns you may have while
allowing the teacher to get to know them.
Your child’s schooling experience will help shape
them for their adult life so helping to make
it a positive experience will set them up for a
successful adult life with enjoyable and happy
memories.

party plan selling
Party plan selling is making a revival and it’s savvy
mums who are cashing in, writes Jemma Nott
Made popular by iconic brands like Tupperware,

candles to educational supplies to massage

Australia and the overwhelming majority of them

this form of direct selling can provide a way for

chairs it’s no wonder that more mums than ever

are women. The appeal of party plan selling is

stay at home mums to boost the family income

before are becoming party plan sellers. In fact,

obvious for mums - start-up costs are low, the

without the inflexible hours of a more traditional

the Direct Selling Association (DSA) reports over

hours are flexible and it’s a sociable way to do

job. With the possibility of selling anything from

six hundred thousand active direct sellers in

business.

Maria Canton

Larissa Bright
Australia

Enjo Cleaning
Products

After a battle with
postnatal depression,
following the birth
of her second child,
Maria set up Little
Angels Party Packs as a
way to keep to busy and motivated. She says
that selling children’s products through Little
Angels has allowed her to get more out of her
work life, whilst making time for her family and
she hasn’t looked back.

Whilst running a home
salon and raising three
children, Ann decided to
try party plan selling on
the side. She discovered
company Larissa Bright
Australia whilst on holiday on the Gold Coast.

With her husband
frequently overseas for
his work in the army
and a young son to care
for, Heidi Solway turned
to selling ENJO cleaning
products as a flexible way of earning money
from home.

As the founder and manager of Little Angels
Party Packs, Maria says that running her own
business can come with challenges, but found
that the benefits outweigh the downsides.
“Running my own business has definitely been
a challenge. The initial outlay of products, and
keeping stock on hand can sometimes be a
financial strain depending on their turnover,”
she says.
“The upside is that I get to take my children to
school, be there for assemblies, do classroom
reading & pick them up from school every day.”

www.pakmag.com.au

Heidi Solway

Little Angels
Party Planners

“Being a mum is a full-time job, but I wanted
more and therefore I wanted to start a
business that would give me the opportunity
to meet people and earn a little extra money
to pay the bills,” she says.

14

Ann Hayward

“I was visiting my brother’s family on the Gold
Coast and we were talking about incorporating
natural skincare products into my home
salon. I was then introduced to a Larissa Bright
Consultant who gave me a beautiful facial and I
fell in love with the products,” she says.
“When I found out that it was a North QLD
company, I decided to start selling it in Cairns.”
Ann says that she was initially nervous about
how she would fare in the party-planning
world, but her fears quickly went after her first
bookings.
“I was nervous to start with, but after doing
my first parties, I found the products sold
themselves due to their high quality,” she says.
Ann says that the secrets to success when
starting off in party planning are very simple.
“I would encourage others to have parties
prearranged with your friends, take advantage
of the training offered and utilise booking tools
to keep getting new party bookings in your
diary,” she says.

“Having been to a couple of demonstrations
myself and hosting my own, I definitely fell in
love with the benefits of using ENJO,” she says.
“I got to thinking about getting back into the
workforce - my way - and ENJO certainly gave
me the opportunity to work from home and
spend maximum time with my son, Aaric.”
Previously working in a coffee shop, whilst she
was pregnant with her now one-year-old son,
she says she realised she would earn more
money and work less hours with her party
planning business.
“I was blown away in my first week to earn
seven times the amount I would have earned
if I had gone back to my part time job at the
coffee shop job!” she says.
Heidi says that any mums considering party
planning should simply try it and see if it suits
them. “Give it a go, you really have nothing to
lose!” she says.

www.pakmag.com.au

15

17

Women
& finance

good money habits
The start of a new year is a good
time to take a look at your finances.
Start with these 5 simple steps:
[1] Get to grips with your cash flow

Main story thanks to
Fiona Mountford

free bill paying tools

concentrate on paying off the credit card
with the highest interest rate first and/or take

The best way to do this is by completing a

advantage of a balance transfer deal to another

budget and then sticking to it (try using the

credit card provider with a lower interest rate.

online TFS Smart Money Guide budgeting tool at
www.tfs.smartmoneyguide.com.au). If you’re not
good at budgeting, adopt the strategy of paying
yourself first. Each time you get paid transfer
part of it in to a savings account before you can
spend it.

[2] Watch the cents

[4] Boost your super

Death and taxes are the two certainties in life

If you’re not already doing so, look into salary

we’ll have bills to pay. To help you manage

sacrificing into your super as a way to save for

your finances, most banks and credit unions

retirement while also reducing your current

offer free budgeting calculators on their

taxable income. If you earn less than $61,920

websites.

per annum, you could also make a personal
contribution into super from your own pocket

A few takeaway lunches each week or a daily

and the government will top it up via the

cappuccino all adds up. It may not seem like

government co-contributions scheme.

much at the time but a daily cappuccino can
end up costing you over $700 a year. If you used
this money to make extra repayments on your
mortgage instead you could end up saving
yourself $30,000 over the long term (based on
a $300,000 mortgage and an interest rate of 7%
per annum).

16

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[5] Protect your wealth
Your ability to earn an income is the most
valuable thing you have so review your

but another thing we can be sure of is that

All you need to do is itemise your bills into
monthly amounts. This might include regular
expenses as well as less frequent bills. Once
you’ve calculated your total expenses, you
can compare your total income and total
budgeted expenses for each month and make
relevant adjustments.

insurance covers to check that it is adequate,

To make sure you pay all of these bills on time

appropriate and competitively priced.

(and therefore avoid being penalised) you can
also open a Billpaying Account. This allows

[3] Pay off credit card debt

Fiona Mountford is a Financial Planner, from

your bills to be spread out across 12 months,

TFS Financial Planning. For more information

so you don’t have to stress about having

If you have multiple credit card debts

call 4046 5555 or visit www.tfs.net.au

enough money or paying your bills on time.

www.pakmag.com.au

17

19

PakHealth
feature
Story thanks to
Elaine Seager

healthy resolutions
Many people start off the new year with resolutions to be more healthy, fitter
or slimmer but more than 60% of people have given up on them by the end of
February. When it comes to your health its worth working out what will make
them stick so here are some keys to successfully achieving your health goals:
• Keep them small and simple - set yourself up

• Be realistic – parents are generally busy so set

• Join up with friends – you are far more likely

for success rather than failure. The simpler and

goals that fit around your lifestyle. For example,

to succeed if you have other people around

easier to achieve you can make your goals, the

make a commitment to go to one class a week.

you for support.

• Have fun – don’t force yourself to go to

Whatever the reason, if you find yourself not

the gym if you hate it, find a more fun way to

achieving your goal in the time frame you have

exercise. What about joining a dance class or

set, just remember that you haven’t failed, you

learning a martial art?

simply haven’t achieved your goal YET!

better. This doesn’t mean that your goals can’t
challenge you but big goals are achieved one
baby step at a time.
• Make them positive – instead of saying you
want to lose 15 kilos, make your goal to
achieve an ideal weight of 70 kg.

teething

• Record and celebrate – each time you achieve
an interim target reward yourself.

thanks to Dr Julia Driscoll

I recently had to check out a drooling, irritable bubba and at the same time
I prescribed his mum some pain relief for her wisdom tooth that she was
cutting. She said she had renewed sympathy for teething babies.
Symptoms to look for include:
• Drooling and dribbling

greater than 38 degrees just down to teething.

disappear. To relieve the discomfort offer

Teething does lower a baby’s immune system

teething rings (don’t freeze them solid or

so they can easily pick up diarrhoea or cold

• Mood changes with irritability

else they may bruise those swollen gums), a

viruses. If any doubt, consult your child health

facewasher placed in the freezer for 30 minutes

nurse or local doctor.

• Tender and swollen gums

www.pakmag.com.au

Don’t make the mistake of putting a fever of

before the tooth erupts and then rapidly

• Wanting to bite things

• Sleepless nights

18

The symptoms start about three to five days

and a teething gel like Bonjela. Chilled foods
like pureed apple or yoghurt may also be

• May be off their usual diet

preferred - the cold sensation and pressure

• Some get a facial or chest rash due to dribble

on their gums helps relieve the inflammation.

• Ear pulling (if it is repeated and if they have a

When all else fails an infant’s dose of

fever get them checked for infection)

paracetamol is sometimes helpful.

Dr Julia Driscoll is a doctor at Apple Tree
Medical Centre in Smithfield, Cairns. She is
also the author of “My Story”, an interactive
children’s book to reduce sibling rivalry. For
info go to www.juliaschildrensbooks.com

The Heart Foundation have launched a campaign
titled ‘Will you recognise your heart attack?’
because many Australians are not recognising the
warning signs of a heart attack and are taking too
long to seek appropriate medical help.

• Acupuncture • naturopathy

awakening therapies
1/4pg ad

• homeopathy • Massage
• iridology • Kinesiology

1/4pg ad

• Psychotherapist

Research has shown us that most people

the centre of the chest, and in the neck, jaw,

Thanks to Calanna Pharmacy we have some

don’t actually know what the warning signs

arm/s, back and/or shoulder/s?

COQ10 supplements to give away to one

of a heart attack are but knowing the warning
signs and acting quickly can reduce the
damage to the heart muscle and increase
chances of survival. It’s better to risk calling
000 and finding out it’s a false alarm than
delaying making the call.

20

lucky reader. Valued at $26.95 they help
• Do you also feel nauseous, a cold sweat,

promote cardiovascular health and are good

Very qualified & experienced team

feverish, dizzy and/or short of breath?

for relieving the discomfort of migraines.

of practitioners under one roof.

If you feel any of these symptoms, stop and
rest. Tell someone about how you are feeling
and if the symptoms are severe and get

Obesity is sweeping the nation and since obese kids
turn in to obese adults, it’s important for children to
avoid becoming overweight. Here are some tips for
keeping your children in their appropriate weight range:
[1] Small servings

often dressed up in fancy packaging and sold

The goal after a meal is to leave the table feeling

(fattening) and low in nutritional value. The less

like you could fit in a little more rather than

of these the better.

feeling completely full. Serve smaller amounts by
using smaller plates and bowls and avoid going
back for seconds. Drinking a glass of water before
a meal can also help satisfy hunger.

as ‘healthy snacks’ but they are energy-dense

[3] More vegetables

Muesli bars: healthy?
Muesli bars sound like a healthy
nutritious snack but are they?
Here is the ingredient list of a popular

Children seem to be eating less and less vegies
these days. It may be easier not to serve them

• Dine in family meal deal from only $50
• Best coffee in town from only $3.80
• Takeaway chip cones from only $3.50

wets the bed and occasionally even soils

rashes. You could trial an Elimination Diet

seeds, sunflower kernels, pumpkin seeds,

his pants through the day. We have been

under the supervision of a qualified Dietitian

sultanas, butter, honey, brown sugar.

to see doctors and continence nurses but

who is experienced in food intolerances.

OPEN FOR Breakfast-snacks-Lunch-Dinner
at EsPLaNadE sidE of the NighT MaRkETs
diNE-iN & TakEaway
So come and see us for a healthier version of your typical takeaway
that you will love and the kids won’t know is good for them!
22treats
www.pakmag.com.au

Our Healthy Facts

the problem remains. Could it be related to

• We deep fry all our a-grade chips and foods
in pure cottonseed oil – containing natural
antioxidants and less saturated fat than other
oils – our oil is actually good for you!

what he’s eating?

• our eggs, chicken and beef are all organic
• our coffee is legendary and starts from $3.80
• our cakes are made fresh on site – not produced
and packaged to prolong their shelf life
• We make it possible to feed your family high
quality foods at affordable prices.

Now here is the ingredient list of a homemade muesli bar:

If you have any nutrition related questions,
go to the Nutrition Guru’s facebook page

Each one has roughly the same kilojoule,
fat and sugar content but the home-made
version has none of the additives and
preservatives and only about a tenth of the

It is possible that your son’s diet is affecting

and post on their wall. You can also follow

his ability to control his bowels and bladder.

them on Twitter @NutritionGurus. If you

Simple things like tomato sauce, fruit juice

would like to make an appointment

They are ok as an occasional snack for

and dried fruits are high in naturally occurring

with a Health Management Dietitian

underweight or healthy weight children but

food chemicals, and for sensitive children,

call them on 13 000 HEALTH or go to

overweight children would be better off

a build up of these chemicals can manifest

www.healthmanagement.com.au

eating fruit, a low fat yoghurt or some vegie

into symptoms such as bed-wetting, stomach

sodium (salt) content.

sticks with low fat dip.

www.pakmag.com.au

23

the Best
of Cairns
winners
A huge congratulations to the following businesses
who were voted the best by our readers

Method
Line the base of a slice tray with the scotch finger biscuits. Beat the
cream, pour in condensed milk and lemon juice while still beating.
Pour this over the layer of biscuits. Refrigerate for at least 10 hours. To
serve, top slices with passionfruit pulp or blueberries or drizzle with

lemon butter. This is a simple recipe that is really nice for dessert. The
kids can make it for you! Enjoy!

WIN a Mystery prize!!!
Send in a recipe to competitions@pakmag.com.au
for your chance to win! Entries close: 18/01/2012

Place water, onion and peppercorns in a saucepan. Bring to the boil
over high heat. Add chicken. Cover. Set aside for 30 minutes to poach.
Remove chicken. Set aside to cool. Shred chicken. Dip 1 rice paper
sheet into warm water for 30 seconds or until it softens. Arrange
chicken along one edge, leaving a 2cm border. Top with mint, snow
pea sprouts and a lettuce leaf. Roll up to enclose. Halve. Repeat with
the remaining rice paper sheets, chicken, mint, snow pea sprouts and
lettuce. Serve with sauce for dipping.

Check out our facebook page to see the full details: www.facebook.com/PakmagCairns

Best of Cairns proudly brought to you by:

24

www.pakmag.com.au

www.pakmag.com.au

25

What’s On
January
Eating Out
Feel like going out for dinner during the
holidays? Check out the following for kid’s
entertainment:

WORDS
Auld Lang Syne
Baby New Year
Celebrate
Cheers
Countdown
December
Father Time
Festive
First
Holiday
January
Midnight
New Year’s Day
New Year’s Eve
Old Man Time
Party
Resolution
Thirty-first
Twelve o’clock
Winter

Simply email us the words at the end and you could win
a mystery prize! Send to: competitions@pakmag.com.au

Match the word with the right picture and win!!!
Meat Pie
Aussie Flag
Thongs
Coat of Arms
Cork Hat
Kangaroo

Catch up with Cleo
I went to see the Xtreme Illusions
show with Sam Powers at the Reef
Casino. He did lots of fantastic
magic tricks and I got to ask him
some questions afterwards:

DATE

VENUE

14/01/12 Esplanade

pink = family

ENTERTAINMENT/EVENT NAME
DJ Bart

green = kids

TIME
3:00 PM

blue = adults

FOR MORE INFO
www.cairnsesplanade.com.au

COST
Free

14/01/12 The Wildlife Habitat

Wildlife Kids club

1:30 PM

4099 3235

15/01/12 Cazalys

Pakclub - Paparazzi party come as your favorite personality

5:00 PM

admin@pakmag.com.au

Free

15/01/12 Brothers Leagues Club

Live Music: Carrizma

5:30 PM

www.brotherscairns.com

Free

15/01/12 The Wildlife Habitat

Wildlife Kids club

1:30 PM

4099 3235

16/01/12 BRAD HOPE FAMILY MARTIAL ARTS

Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Bullyproof® Camp - 16 to 20th

9:00 AM

4057 7869

Cost

16/01/12 Cairns Central

Yogi Bear Stage shows - 16th to 20th

11:00 AM

www.cairnscentral.com.au

Free

16/01/12 Cairns Central

Yogi Bear Stage shows - 16th to 20th

1:00 PM

www.cairnscentral.com.au

Free

16/01/12 Fogarty Park

FITKIDS - Free Class

9:00 AM

www.cairnsesplanade.com.au

Free

16/01/12 The Wildlife Habitat

Wildlife Kids club

1:30 PM

4099 3235

[1] What was the first magic trick

with my assistant in the blink of an eye. It’s

I would become a mattress salesman

17/01/12 Gecko's Indoor Play Centre

Craft

11:00am

4038 1181

Cost

you ever learned? When I was five

technically the most difficult illusion and

because I thought that would be something

17/01/12 Smithfield Library

Storytime

10:30 AM

4044 3711

Free

years old I would pretend to cut my finger

receives the biggest response from the

good to fall back on. But seriously, I wanted

off and place it inside a matchbox. Everyone

audience. I can literally hear jaws drop when

to become a vet because of my love for

would freak out when the finger moved

I appear on top of the trunk.

animals. At least now I get to work with

around in the box like it was still alive.

[3] If you weren’t a magician or

them in my show.

17/01/12 Gordonvale Library

Craft Workshop

10:30 AM

4056 1365

Free

17/01/12 Brothers Leagues Club

Live Music: Out of the Blue

9:30 AM

www.brotherscairns.com

Free

17/01/12 Muddys

Holiday Craft

9:00 AM

www.cairnsesplanade.com.au

Free

18/01/12 Mossman Library

Craft Workshop

10:30 AM

4099 9496

Free

18/01/12 City Library

Craft Workshop

10:30 AM

4044 3720

Free

18/01/12 Babinda Library

Storytime

10:30 AM

4067 1112

Free
Free

[2] What is your favourite magic

illusionist, what would you like to

trick and why? Without a doubt it is

be? I was going to become a Clairvoyant

18/01/12 Muddy's Cafe

Muddy's Wicked Wednesday's

5:00 PM

4051 0388

18/01/12 Fogarty Park

FITKIDS - Free Class

9:00 AM

www.cairnsesplanade.com.au

Free

the Houdini Trunk where I switch places

but I couldn’t see a future in it... So I thought

19/01/12 Gecko's Indoor Play Centre

Facepainting

11:00am

4038 1181

Cost

WIN a

By Cleopatra Cranston

Lunchbox!

19/01/12 Smithfield Community Health Centre

Triple P - Positive Parenting Program

6:00 PM

4226 4800

Free

19/01/12 Stratford Library

Baby Rhyme Time

10:30 AM

4044 3733

Free

19/01/12 Mossman Library

Storytime and Rhyme Time

10:30 AM

4099 9496

Free

19/01/12 Brothers Leagues Club

Live Music: Out of the Blue

8:00 PM

www.brotherscairns.com

Free

19/01/12 Muddys

Holiday Craft

9:00 AM

www.cairnsesplanade.com.au

Free

20/01/12 Early Years Kindergarten, Bentley Park

Get Ready for Kindy Expo

10:00 AM

4045 0003

Free

20/01/12 Stratford Library

Craft Workshop

10:30 AM

4044 3733

Free

20/01/12 Golden Boast Chinese Restaurant,

Fundraising Yum Cha

11:30 AM

4051 0288

Cost

20/01/12 Brothers Leagues Club

Live Music: Celine Deeaz

8:45 PM

www.brotherscairns.com

Free

20/01/12 Fuller Sports Club, Edmonton

Live Music: Giles Smith Trio

8:00 PM

www.fullersports.com.au

Free

20/01/12 Woree Primary School

Just Dance Cairns - Zumba® Open Day

5:00 PM

4055 5212

Free

20/01/12 Fogarty Park

FITKIDS - Free Class

9:00 AM

www.cairnsesplanade.com.au

Free

20/01/12 The Wildlife Habitat

Wildlife Kids club

1:30 PM

4099 3235

21/01/12 Fogarty Park, Cairns Esplanade

Chinese New Year Street Festival

3:00 PM

4032 3364

21/01/12 Brothers Leagues Club

Live Music: Barbary Coasters

8:00 PM

www.brotherscairns.com

Free

21/01/12 Fuller Sports Club, Edmonton

Live Music: Barbary Coasters

8:00 PM

www.fullersports.com.au

Free

21/01/12 Esplanade Plaza

Esplanade Cotters MArkets

8:00 AM

www.cairnsesplanade.com.au

Free

Budons stationery make going to school even more fun with their cool collectable characters. You can collect ‘em, swap ‘em, snap ‘em
on and off anytime of day to change your look and suit your mood. And, there are new Budons clip-on characters being released all
year round so you won’t get bored! Available at Target, Howards Storage World, Officeworks, newsagencies and other retailers.

you can WIN a Budons LunchBox!!!
For you chance to win a Budons Lunchbox simply email us at competitions@pakmag.com.au and tell us your favourite Budon character?

34

www.pakmag.com.au

www.pakmag.com.au

35

what’s on jan
DATE

VENUE

pink = family

ENTERTAINMENT/EVENT NAME

green = kids

blue = adults

TIME

FOR MORE INFO

21/01/12 Esplanade

Vanness

11:00 AM

www.cairnsesplanade.com.au

Free

COST

21/01/12 Esplanade

Jaia Rain - Trio

3:00 PM

www.cairnsesplanade.com.au

Free

21/01/12 The Wildlife Habitat

Wildlife Kids club

1:30 PM

4099 3235

22/01/12 Cooktown Botanic Gardens

Treasure Hunt

11:00 AM

0459 774 903

Free

22/01/12 Brothers Leagues Club

Live Music: Carrizma

5:30 PM

www.brotherscairns.com

Free

22/01/12 Cazalys

Junior's Kids Club

6:00 PM

4054 1464

Free

22/01/12 Esplanade

Omid Master Solo

3:00 PM

www.cairnsesplanade.com.au

Free

22/01/12 The Wildlife Habitat

Wildlife Kids club

1:30 PM

4099 3235

23/01/12 Just Kids Early Education House

First day of Kindy and Pre-Prep at the JK House

9:00 AM

www.justkids.net.au

Cost

23/01/12 Cairns International Tennis Centre

Come & Try Day 23rd to 27th

9:00 AM

1300 30 15 30

Free

23/01/12 The Wildlife Habitat

Wildlife Kids club

1:30 PM

4099 3235

24/01/12 Manunda Library

Baby Rhyme Time

10:30 AM

4044 3779

Free

24/01/12 Brothers Leagues Club

Live Music: Billy May

9:30 AM

www.brotherscairns.com

Free

25/01/12 Birch Carroll & Coyle

BABES IN ARMS - The Muppets

10:00 AM

www.eventcinemas.com.au

Cost

25/01/12 City Library

Baby Rhyme Time

10:30 AM

4044 3720

Free

25/01/12 Muddy's Cafe

Muddy's Wicked Wednesday's

5:00 PM

4051 0388

Free

26/01/12 Northern end of Sims Esplanade

Aussie Family Fun Day at Yorkeys Knob

7:00 AM

4044 3044

Free

26/01/12 Cazalys

Great Aussie Meat Pie Challenge

11:00 AM

4054 1464

Free

26/01/12 Brothers Leagues Club

Live Music: Mangrove Jack

8:00 PM

www.brotherscairns.com

Free

26/01/12 Cairns Esplanade

Australia day celebrations

12:00 PM

www.cairnsesplanade.com.au

Free

27/01/12 Edmonton Pool

Night Swim

7:00 PM

4055 4139

$2.50

27/01/12 Brothers Leagues Club

Live Music: 4 in a Groove

8:45 PM

www.brotherscairns.com

Free

27/01/12 Fuller Sports Club, Edmonton

Live Music: Flavez

8:00 PM

www.fullersports.com.au

Free

28/01/12 Brothers Leagues Club

Live Music: Sweet K

8:00 PM

www.brotherscairns.com

Free

28/01/12 Fuller Sports Club, Edmonton

Live Music: Celine Deeaz

8:00 PM

www.fullersports.com.au

Free

28/01/12 Esplanade Plaza

Esplanade Cotters MArkets

8:00 AM

www.cairnsesplanade.com.au

Free

28/01/12 Esplanade

Mark Lane Duo

11:00 AM

www.cairnsesplanade.com.au

Free

28/01/12 Esplanade

Mic Porter Trio

3:00 PM

www.cairnsesplanade.com.au

Free

29/01/12 170 – 182 Mayers Street, Manunda

Backstreet Dance Orientation Day

2:00 PM

0407 995 182

Free

29/01/12 Brothers Leagues Club

Live Music: Carrizma

5:30 PM

www.brotherscairns.com

Free

29/01/12 Cazalys

Junior's Kids Club

6:00 PM

4054 1464

Free

29/01/12 Esplanade

The Hot N Wet Quintet

3:00 PM

www.cairnsesplanade.com.au

Free

31/01/12 Brothers Leagues Club

Live Music: Carrizma

9:30 AM

www.brotherscairns.com

Free

Go to pakmag.com.au for more events and market info

pakclub

for parents & kids

Sport & recreation

ShowcaSe
• Free stalls for all businesses • Showcase your sporting
group on the one day to hundreds of parents and kids

starting high school
Columnist Denise Bewert answers your questions
about handling challenges with today’s teenagers.
READER QUESTION: My son attends a small

You can help him transition smoothly in to high

• Attend the school in the week before term

primary school south of Cairns. He is going

school with these tips:

starts to familiarise him with the layout.

• Take part in the school’s transition program for

• Get him to try on his uniform and shoes the

Year 7 students. These programs enable students

week before school starts to make sure they fit

to meet some of their new teachers, experience

properly so there’s nothing to make him feel

some lessons and learn about the procedures.

uncomfortable on that all-important first day.

• Talk to him about what it was like for you to

• Remind your son that if he is being bullied, it

start high school, or any new school, and explain

is appropriate to tell his teachers, the Principal,

how feeling anxious or nervous is normal for all

Deputy or Guidance Officer at the high school. All

of us in new environments until we get to know

students have the right to feel safe at school.

into high school next year and is feeling
quite anxious about it. He is worried about
finding his way around such a big campus and
missing his friends from primary school who
are going to different high schools. He is also
concerned about being bullied by the older
kids. How can I help him think more positively
about the transition to high school?
The transition from primary school to high
school can be a stressful time for young people,
especially those like your son who attended small
primary schools. For many of these students, the
thought of being one of the youngest students in
a huge school can be really daunting. Your son’s
feelings of anxiety are very common.

the routines. The feeling of disorientation will
only take a week or two.

Denise Bewert is a Guidance Officer, mother of
two and author of two books, Tackling Teens and

• Suggest he invite his friends from primary

Troubled Teens. If you would like to ask Denise a

school over for a pizza night early in Term 1 so

question about your teenager send an email to:

they can all catch up and share their experiences

denise.bewert@bigpond.com

of high school.

starting kindy
Got a parenting question you’d like to ask? Then send
them to our resident Psychologist Megan Colahan.
READER QUESTION: My four year old

• Prepare your daughter in advance by talking

Try to remain relaxed and calm and keep a

daughter is starting Kindy this year and

to her about what will happen at Kindy, what

positive expression on your face. Try to settle

I’m concerned with how she will cope with

the routine will involve and what exciting

her into an activity with other children and

separating from me. She hasn’t been to

things she’ll be doing. Help her practice

let her know when you’re leaving rather than

daycare before and I am worried that she will

opening her lunchbox and drink bottle by

sneaking off.

cry and cling to me when it is time for me to

herself.

leave her there.
Anxiety about separating from parents is
developmentally normal and expected when
young children are starting a new activity
like Kindy. Your child is about to experience
something new and its okay for her to feel a bit
anxious about it.
Planning ahead and being prepared can help to
alleviate any anxiety that you and your daughter
are experiencing. Here are a few tips:

38

www.pakmag.com.au

• Acknowledge her feelings and if she says she

• Visit the Kindy together, even if it’s just to look

is worried that she will miss you, tell her that

at the outside and the playground.

you will miss her too but you are excited to

• Practice separating from her by leaving her
with family members or friends for short

hear about all the fun things she is going to
do during the day.

periods. Avoiding separations is not helpful

• Let the teachers know about your concerns

and it doesn’t allow your child to have the

and trust them to manage her anxiety.

opportunity to learn how to separate from
you successfully.
• On the first day of Kindy communicate very

Megan Colahan is the principal psychologist
at Colahan Psychology. To ask her a question
email: megan@colahan-psychology.com.au

pregnancy and beyond
Pregnancy and parenting can be defining, rewarding
and miraculous moments-in-time for new parents.
However, for many new parents, this time can

set of questions designed to see if a new mother

feelings of inadequacy or guilt.

also be draining, frustrating and demanding and

may have depression. While the questions are not

• Mood changes.

can also place strains on the emotional wellbeing

designed to provide a diagnosis they will tell you

(not to mention the budget!) of a couple as they

if the symptoms that you or someone you know

adjust to the daily challenges and changes of the

are experiencing point to Perinatal Depression.

pregnancy and new baby.

To access the EPDS go to www.beyondblue.org.

Having a child is a major life change and
during pregnancy and the first year after the

the baby.

experiencing depression and related conditions

include:

The ‘baby blues’ is even more common and can
affect up to 80% of women shortly after birth.

• Loss of interest or enjoyment of life or
normal activities

• Physical symptoms such as headaches, heart
palpitations, numbness and hyperventilation.
If you experience any symptoms of Perinatal
Depression or Anxiety for longer than two weeks
talk to your GP as soon as possible. Your GP may

• Crying/persistent sadness

refer you for counselling or supportive therapies.

• Anxiety

One of these options is Perinatal ATAPS.

• Tiredness/fatigue

Perinatal ATAPS is a service that provides

While distressing, the baby blues is a short

• Sleep problems

counselling sessions at no cost for women in the

period of sadness and is very different from

• Appetite disturbances

Perinatal period, including pregnancy and infant

Postnatal Depression, which is a more intense
and protracted condition. Women with the baby
blues may be more irritable or emotional than
usual and feel overwhelmed but these symptoms
are only temporary and can expect to pass
quickly with caring support.
So what does Perinatal Depression look like? The
Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) is a

www.pakmag.com.au

fears, such as obsessive thoughts of harm to

suddenly or develop gradually and can

the after the birth (postnatal) period.

40

• Anxiety manifesting as irrational thoughts and

women and their partners are at greater risk of

(antenatal) and this increases to almost 16% in

• Lack of interest in the baby.

speak to a health professional such as your GP.
Symptoms of Perinatal Depression can begin

Australia experience depression before the birth

remembering things.

au. If the score is 10 points or above you should

birth of a baby (known as the Perinatal period)

such as anxiety. About 10% of women in

• Difficulty concentrating, making decisions or

Particular antenatal symptoms may also
include:
• Ongoing feelings of ambivalence about
the unborn baby.

loss. Referral is through a GP and the support
covers up to twelve sessions.
For more information contact your GP or Steven
Brooke at Far North Queensland Rural Division of
General Practice, Cairns on 4042 7333.

Particular postnatal symptoms may include:
• Overly intense worries about the baby or

www.pakmag.com.au

41

pakbaby

pakbaby
baby sling risk

rear facing safer

Thanks to Qld Ambulance

pacifier use

By the time babies are six months old most
parents are keen to turn them around to

by Carla Lejarraga

bottle feeding mums lack info

frequent pacifier use and you would like to

can be soothing for a baby and studies show

limit its use, do it gradually. Many children

that short-term use during infancy is not

become very attached to their pacifiers and

The death of a newborn baby while being

significant enough to cause worry. However it

can begin sucking thumbs or fingers, tongue,

carried in a baby sling has prompted

is the long-term use beyond infancy that has

lip blanket or other object when parents

warnings about how to use slings safely.

researchers concerned.

abruptly discontinue its use.

Although an autopsy did not determine

Studies are showing that children who

Begin limiting the use of the pacifier by only

the cause of death, the baby sling was

use a pacifier after 12 months are more at

allowing its use at home, then only for shorter

considered a risk factor.

risk of developing dental malocclusions,

and shorter periods of time, then only at

speech and language problems, exposure

naptime or bedtime, then only at bedtime.

to bacterial infections, and most recently,

When your child has become accustomed

a higher experience of acute otitis media,

to using the pacifier only at bedtime, try to

or ear infections. If your baby is sufficiently

remove the pacifier after your child has fallen

contented and can be comforted in other

to sleep. You will have a few tears for a couple

ways, it is best to avoid using a pacifier. If you

of days, but it will be worth it the long term

find she really needs it, just be sure to get rid

for your child’s health and wellbeing!

If your child has become accustomed to

Laws say they must be six months old and at
least 8kgs to be forward facing). However, if

There is no doubt that sucking on a pacifier

of it by around 12 months.

face forwards in their car seats (the new

Breastfeeding mums are given lots of information
but new research by the QUT has indicated that
mothers who choose to bottle feed their babies may
not be receiving adequate education in hospital.
“Teaching mums the correct way to

The death has prompted two eminent

prepare and store infant formula is vital

pathologists to write a letter to the Medical

to avoid babies having adverse outcomes

Journal of Australia warning that baby

such as bacterial infections, diarrhoea,

slings could cause suffocation. Currently

hypernatraemia and under nutrition,” nursing

there are no Australian or international

and midwifery lecturer Lisa Wirihana said.

manufacturing safety standards for baby

at the time of discharge from hospital.

your restraint allows it, its safer to keep them
rear facing for as long as possible.
Child Safety experts and many doctors and
accident trauma consultants, recommend
leaving infants facing rearwards up to 12
months of age since they can be better
protected. Restraints are designed to spread
the force of a severe accident and they

“All of the women (in the research) said

support the child’s head, neck and spine

they had experienced a lack of post-natal

better in the rear facing position.

education regarding bottle feeding, and
little or no opportunity to be able to practice
making up a bottle. Some women in the

slings. Parents are advised to constantly

Ms Wirihana said that breastfeeding was

study felt uncomfortable asking for help. They

Testing reveals that infants have up to a 75%
better chance of surviving a severe motor
vehicle accident if they are rear facing.

monitor babies in slings to ensure their

definitely the best option for both the mother

felt that others assumed bottle feeding was

Consult a professional fitter if you’re having

Carla Lejarraga is a mother of two, an

head is faced outwards and their face isn’t

and the newborn, but for a variety of reasons,

easy and that the mothers should already

any problems adjusting or using your

Orofacial Myologist and Dental Hygienist.

being covered.

approximately one in five women bottle-fed

know how to do it,” she said.

restraints.

Redlynch
We help you to remember
those precious moments
by making an impression
Twinkle Toes is under
new ownership & is
located in Whitfield
For more info call 4034 3131 or visit www.twinkletoes.com.au
42

www.pakmag.com.au

KINDY

CCB Approved • EnroL today • 3-5 yeAr olds

Learning through Play each & every day
For more information visit www.redlynchkindy.com.au
or call 4055 1814 or email redlynchkindy@bigpond.com

4042 7333

www.pakmag.com.au

43

45

Wardrobe
Wake Up
Story thanks to
Gerlinda Aras

think positive
Attractiveness starts in the mind
From a young age we are bombarded with

body, there would be no need for Botox or

images of the bold and the beautiful. The

breast implants.

combination of media, fashion, friends
and family can have a significant influence
on our body image.

The first step to looking good on the
outside is feeling good on the inside. Here
are my top tips for a better body image.

Most women have wondered “Am I too

The things we tell ourselves about our

Our family law
specialists will listen
to you and provide
assurance about where
you stand.

Steph’s Makeover

[1] Stop negative talk and replace them
with positive affirmations. For example,
tell yourself “I have a strong healthy body”.
To remind yourself to think about your
body positively, stick a post-it note on your
mirror.
[2] Focus on the parts you like rather
than the parts you don’t. Do you have a
nice smile, pretty hair or great legs?

mummy worries how she looks, I should

[3] Don’t wait until your body is just

worry how I look too. The truth is all bodies

right to start looking great. You can wear

are beautiful. They come in all shapes

clothes that suit your body shape right

and sizes with each one being special

now to make you look slimmer instantly.

and unique. If everyone embraced their

After
Model: Thanks to our teen makeover model Stephanie Jones. Her mum Rachelle nominated her
so she could feel great going in to Year 11 Clothing: Thanks to City Chic (Cairns Central)
Hair & Makeup: Thanks to: Savvy. For info call 40311040 or go to www.savvyhair.com.au

Photography thanks to

Gerlinda Aras is a stylist and image consultant for
Mirror Image Consultations. For more information:
www.mirrorimageconsultations.com

Before
www.pakmag.com.au

45

It’s Party

Time!
Book your child’s next Birthday
Party at Cairns Indoor Sports
They can choose from Cricket,
Netball, Soccer, Beach Volleyball
& Dodgeball. Come & relax while
your children have a blast!

[13] Young Company
Each week is a 4-day programme (9am-3pm)
exploring all the elements of stage performance.

• Stratford – 20 Jan – Paper Suncatchers

[9] Tanks

10-13 Jan: Nintendo Nitrons (favourite computer

Bookings are essential. Check the website at

The Academy of Television will be presenting

(favourite magical and enchanted stories). Cost:

www.cairnslibrary.com.au or call 4044 3785 for

a summer school program for budding young

$195 per course. For more info call 4041 4066 or

times and program details.

actors. Dates: 3-7 January. Call 4059 1141 for

go to www.theyoungcompany.com.au

[6] Gecko’s
Extra activities included as part of the entry fee

more information.

[10] Ten Pin Bowling

game characters). 17-20 Jan: Spellbound

[14] Cable Ski
The Kids Holiday Club introduces kids aged 6-14

Check out the special school holiday deals at Go

to knee boarding, wakeboarding and water-

Bowling on Pease St. They also have an early bird

skiing. It runs 8.30-10am Monday-Friday.

• 3 Jan – Face painting

special – only $6 per person if you’re on the lanes

Cost $29 per session ($116 for the week). Call

• 5 Jan – Craft

before 10am. Family deals start as low as $39 for

4038 1304 or visit www.cableskicairns.com.au

• 10 Jan – Construction

a family of four including shoe hire.

• 12 Jan – Plasticine

For more info and to book call 4053 3497.

during the January holidays include:

• 17 Jan – Craft
• 19 Jan – Face painting

[11] Barron Valley Gymnastics

Call 4038 1181 for more information.

Day camps full of fun, obstacle courses, games

[7] Edmonton Pool
School holiday programme for ages 3+. Cost $15

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and crafts. No gymnastics experience or leotards
needed – it’s all playtime. Suitable for kids 5+.
Cost $25 per day (not available Wednesdays).

[15] Lifetime Tennis
The Cairns International Tennis Centre runs a
school holiday camp with non-stop games,
activities, prizes and giveaways. Cost: $25 per day
or $99 for a full week of half days. For more info
contact LifeTime Tennis on 1300 30 15 30 or visit
www.cairnstenniscentre.com.au

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49

Get fit the fun way
KINDY CHEER
Saturday morning classes for kids 2-5
Kindy Cheer Program available for
2-5 year olds. Combination of song and
dance + fun, fitness & friends!

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summer holiday fun

Boredom
Busters
Story thanks to
Elaine Seager

Vacation Care
[1] YMCA of Cairns Vacation Care
An active and fun programme for prep-14 yr olds
with sports, games, cooking and crafts. Cost $45
per day. Call Nardia or Jacinda on 4057 7507 for
more info or go to cairns.ymca.org.au

Classes starting from only $10
For more information contact Tamara 0402 225 630
or email info@awesomecheerleading.com
or visit www.awesomecheerleading.com

including craft activities, team sports, board

AWESOME

games, toys and face painting. Programs are
developed to suit all ages, needs and abilities.
Morning and afternoon tea provided. Cost $8.90
per day based on 100% CCB Rebate (extra for
excursions). For more info speak to Jodie on 4053

With the summer holidays here what better time to get the kids involved
in creating a tropical Hawaiian beach party?

same as musical chairs)
• Silly snorkel races – a race to put on
goggles, snorkel, fins and a rubber
ring and then run to the end of the
garden and back (can be played in
teams as relay race)
• Silly swimming stroke relays where
players have to run a short relay
pretending to swim a different
swimming stroke like breaststroke,
backstroke, freestyle, etc.

•

Grass hula skirts

•

Floral leis to wear around necks

•

Floral hairclips

•

Sarongs

•

Hawaiian floral shirts and shorts

•

Straw hats

•

Bathers

• Play the ukulele and make up songs
• Fill an inflatable pool with water if
you don’t have a pool.
• Take photos of your beach party at
home to make up a little homemade
book or album.

• Save mini juice bottles and wash

four pieces, then stick a store-bought

them so the kids can make messages

icy-pole stick into each piece of

in bottles. They can draw a picture, a

banana, dip the banana into melted

map or write a note to go in the bottle.

chocolate, then place on baking paper

• Make floral hair clips using flowers
off the floral leis, sew a button on to

and pop in the freezer to have once
the chocolate has hardened.

the middle of the flower then hand

• Make hula skirts out of coloured

sew on to the end of a bobby pin or

crepe paper.

hair clip.
Decorations are always fun and add to the atmosphere. For a beach style party why not hang
bamboo blinds, masks, grass skirts and tiki statues, put up inflatable palm trees, bring in some
plants as props, hang colourful paper lanterns, lay out bright floral fabric tablecloths and
source party cups in shapes of coconuts or pineapples with straws sticking out the top. For

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• Fruit skewers – give kids a few bamboo
skewers (trim the sharp end) and a
plate of different chopped fruit and let
them make up their own fruit skewers.

added wow factor, carve a tiki-style face in to a watermelon and use as a table-top decoration.

• Make chocolate bananas on sticks –

Stick on some Hawaiian luau music and the scene is set...

chop a banana in half or into three or
www.pakmag.com.au

53

55

Activities
for kids
Story thanks to
Amanda Cranston

10 rainy day ideas
Weather too hot or rainy for outside activities? Try
these ideas to keep the kids from getting bored
[1] Building Toys

with Peter Pan, The Famous Five or Harry Potter.

Kids love building things and creating all sorts

story and illustrate your book, or make up a story

Pop on some music and dance around to it

of structures so dig out the Lego, K’Nex, Zoob,

together.

and make up silly dances, get out the musical

If you are feeling creative, write your own short

U-Build, Jawbones or wooden building blocks

instruments and play along with the music

and let their imaginations go.

[5] Get creative

[2] Movie afternoon

For those who love to be creative, an afternoon

Why not plan your very own cinema experience

mum, making jewellery, decorating handmade

and borrow some DVDs from the video library,

bookmarks and gift cards or raiding the craft box

Treasure hunts are always popular, so write up

make popcorn and your own choc top ice

for scissors, glue and coloured pencils and textas.

rhyming clues and hide them around the house.

indoors can mean cooking or baking with

creams, and settle in for an afternoon of movies
in the lounge room or in the back garden if you
have a projector and room to hang a large sheet
for the movie screen.

microphone.

[9] Do an indoor treasure hunt

[6] Boardgames and puzzles

start the kids off on their first clue and let them

Boardgames or big jigsaw puzzles are always a

opposite ends of the house so the kids have to

great way to have fun together as a family on a

run backwards and forwards on their hunt.

[3] Build an indoor cubby

boring day. From Uno to Monopoly to Connect

Indoor cubbies are the best! You will need sheets,

everybody.

4 and Twister, games guarantee lots of fun for

find the rest. Try and hide every second clue at

[10] Play hide and seek indoors
This game never goes out of fashion and it is

[7] Play dress ups

even better when you can rope mum or dad in to

Let the kids loose in your wardrobe and their

on ‘really good’ hiding spots. There are so many

[4] Reading or make up your
own stories and books

dress-up box. They can have hours of fun with

places to hide and it’s always good fun.

Take a trip to the library and borrow some of your

a fashion parade or act out a play while dressed

favourite story books and set off on an adventure

in costume.

pegs to hold sheets in place. Build a cubby under
the dining table or by pushing chairs together.

www.pakmag.com.au

or plug in karaoke and sing along with a

Wrap up the treasure and hide it, and then

blankets, pillows, cushions and possibly some

54

[8] Music – Dance, Play, Sing!

the game to help hide the little ones and advise

costumes, scarves, feather boas, hats, wigs,
shoes, handbags and props. Get them to put on

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55

pakclub

57

Weekend
Activities

fun for parents & kids

paparazzi
party

Story thanks to
Amanda Cranston

kids eat

FrEE
From thE buFFEt

Buffet $15 for members &
$17 for non members
*Under 10 year olds eat free from the
buffet with each paying adult.

• Dress as your favourite celebrity
and you could win fantastic prizes!
• Loads of prizes, activities, games
and fun for the whole family

bookingS ESSEntial
phonE 4054 1464

afloat on a houseboat
A weekend on a houseboat is the perfect family getaway as there are no
distractions and just the peace and quiet of the river, writes Amanda Cranston.
Having never been on a houseboat and

After paying our bond and loading our food,

the moonlight and got to see a sky full of stars

preparing for a long weekend on the water

bedding and fishing gear on board, we headed

every night. It truly was a fantastic weekend away

with an adventurous four-year old, I admit I

off down the Hinchinbrook Channel for a

as we were in no hurry to go anywhere, and just

was a little nervous. But I shouldn’t have been

weekend of fishing and relaxation. The two little

woke up and fished off the back deck or read at

because the Hinchinbrook Houseboat Lucinda

kids in their lifejackets watched excitedly from

our leisure. It is amazing to think Hinchinbrook is

Dawn was spacious and well equipped for

the small front deck as a dolphin swam beside us

only a few hours drive from Cairns and so easy to

families. Travelling with our two children and

only 10 minutes into our trip, and once we found

plan for a weekend getaway.

accompanied by friends with their two children,

a calm spot to anchor the boat we were surprised

it was great to get away from the phone, the

at the variety of wildlife that actually inhabits

television and all the other daily diversions.

the Hinchinbrook Channel. Over the weekend

Our houseboat slept eight people and had
two rooms with bunks and two with single
beds which could be pushed together to make

Sun 15 January 5pm-7pm
Cazalys FunCtion Room

double beds. One bedroom even had a sliding
door onto the back deck. It had a fully equipped

we saw an enormous saltwater crocodile swim
right by our houseboat, we saw turtles, jumping
fish and caught a stingray, baby shark, lots of
different fish and plenty of crabs. My five year-old
daughter even caught her very first fish.

kitchen with all crockery and utensils, a lounge

The only downside to a fabulous weekend was

and dining area with television and DVD player

the sandflies. We ran out of insect repellent by

(although no television reception), a bathroom,

day two and we were all eaten alive but apart

two toilets and a top deck entertaining area with

from that we had afternoon sleeps, watched the

barbecue and seating.

most beautiful sunsets in the evenings, fished in

Tide times obviously dictate when you take the
boat out and bring it back, but Hinchinbrook
Houseboats provides these details at the time of
booking. For anyone who has never experienced
a houseboat getaway, it really is a wonderful
opportunity to truly relax and spend quality time
with family and friends.
For more information on a houseboat getaway,
contact Hinchinbrook Lazy Croc Houseboats
on 4777 8377 or free call 1800 002 338.

PHONE: 4054 1464 • www.cazalys.com.au
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www.pakmag.com.au

Terms & condiTions apply: YOu NEEd tO bE a mEmbEr Of CazalY’s
to enter due to the Qld liQuor Act 1992, which is $5 for the yeAr.

www.pakmag.com.au

57

biz directory
Services

mummy memos
Health Services

entertainment

Kate van Eck, a self-confessed stressed
out mother of two, chronicles her family life
Some days just never turn out quite as you
expect. I thought that taking my kids to the
Wiggles concert and allowing them to take the
day off school/kindy with lunch at the golden
arches would be a special family day out for us

“That’s why I suggested you stay at home for the
day!”
It was then after a long uncomfortable silence
that I was finally dealt the ultimate blow: “You’re
just the worst mummy ever!”
I guess there’s no pleasing some folks.

“Don’t come before story time Mummy.”
“But story time’s not ‘til the end of the day when I

Former travel photographer turned dad
Paul Dymond begins his new column on
life as a stay-at-home dad

to go back to work”. Not just any job mind you,
but one that involves a lot of time out of town
for days at a time. I’d been a travel photographer
for 10 years. Travelled the world, had lots of
adventures. Now it was my wife’s turn. The only
hiccup? Two little boys that needed looking after.

delusional. I can’t think of any other job that lasts

be living the life of Reilly while the missus brings

from 5.30 am until 8pm, with possible wake-up

home the bacon.

duty at any hour of the night. Oh, and if you have
a secretary in your current job you might want
to bring her along. Library Book day, PE day,
Show and Tell day, Sports day, Baseball practice,
Sleepover date. Your calendar will be fuller than
Paris Hilton’s social card.

In other words be prepared to work harder than
you ever have in your life. Of course it’s just as
hard for Mums, only I suspect they have some
kind of secret club that lets them all know in
advance so they’re prepared for it. Us guys don’t
know what’s hit us until it’s way too late. But

Four years later and we’re still going strong but

But sure, you get to lounge around the house all

the busyness is just one of many surprises and

it’s not all beer and skittles.

day and watch the cricket right? Yes, if you don’t

mysteries in store for the stay-at-home Dad.

If anybody tells you it’s easy they’re either lying
to lull you into a false sense of security, or they’re

laugh with a local
This month on facebook we’ve been talking about the funniest thing
you’ve got your kids doing so you can take a rest during the holidays?
From: Christina Forrest
“Last year I was exhausted at
Christmas time with a newborn

Prize

Winner

baby so to put my feet up one afternoon, I gave
my two older children some decorations and told
them to go decorate their bedroom. Afterwards,
I inspected their room to find no tinsel or
decorations anywhere. Suspicious, I walked
outside to see where the kids were, only to find
the two dogs draped head to toe in baubles,
tinsel and bells!”

From: Kaylene Hobson
“I had already bought all my presents before
Christmas but told my son that daddy and I
needed to do some more. He’s not keen on being
babysat but since I convinced him it’s the only

way he would get presents, he spent the day with
grandma while we had a day out!”

From: Jaime Gunton
“My mum and dad were once trying to plant
an orchid but some of the soil had rock in it. So
mum got us to help her and showed us how to
pick up the rock, throw it in the wheelbarrow
and then dump it on to a pile of rubbish. As soon

From: Tamara Manning
“When you just stand and stare at the fridge and
cannot for the life of you even work out why you
are there...then you remember you were actually
heading to the laundry”

From: Danielle Esler Mitchell
“When you spray men’s deodorant on your head
because you mistake it for hairspray”

as we got stuck in to getting the job done mum

From: Marina Waddell

sneaked off and left us to it. After complaining for

“When you wander around the house in a slight

a while to dad he admitted that mum had nipped

panic because you can’t find your small child, and

off to ‘have a break and do some shopping’’.

it takes you a full minute before you realise he’s

The following readers also deserve a mention

ON YOUR HIP. True story!”

for their responses to this question on
facebook – ‘You know you’re tired when…

Next month’s question: What have you pretended to enjoy to please your children?
Email your answers to “Laugh With A Local” with your name and number to info@pakmag.com.au by January 18 and you could WIN a $50 Stockland Voucher!